Day 5

22/08/2011 – Day 5

Hebelhof to Todtnau again

As continental Europe is one hour ahead of the UK I had to wait until 10am here before phoning Easyjet. The number for the baggage claims office was on the form they had given me at the airport. Previously I had sent an email to the address also found on the form only to have an automated reply saying they will try to get back to me ‘WITHIN 14 DAYS!’

Deep breathing here, cool, calm, collected. Think good things……….

I get through straight away (good start) and speak to one of the employees. I explain what has happened and ask them what they are going to do about it, to which they reply they are very sorry but this is the busiest time of the year and there is nothing they can do for the next 28 days.

Deep breathing, cool, calm and EXPLODE!

I explain, trying to stay civil, that I am cycling from Basel to Bucharest and that I cannot wait 28 days for them to get their finger out and put right the damage they have caused to which they tell me I can claim off my insurance.

WHAT?

They caused the damage and it is up to me to claim off MY insurance?

You can guess how it went from here.

To her credit, the person I was speaking to stayed calm and referred up to her supervisor who came up with the idea of hiring a bike for the rest of the journey.

One, two, three, four, five….do they have any idea of the cost for that? Even if I find someone willing to rent a bike for that time and distance I would still have to bring it back at the end of the trip. Will they pay for that?

Finally they agree to the cost of a taxi to take the bike for an inspection and wait for the outcome.

Fortunately we saw a bike shop in Tadtnau on Saturday and I decided to cycle down there to have the bike inspected. So off I set slowly, 600m descent over a distance of 10km, wobbling all the way.

Once again cyclists look out for each other, having arrived I found the shop closed. I call the number on the door and the owner answers and speaks English, phew! He agrees to come in and open the shop to look at my bike. He is really just a hire shop with a few bikes to sell but he knows what the problem is. He tells me he will do some checking and let me know what can be done.

So I take a taxi back to the hostel and wait.

About 6pm he calls and tells me he has found a Specialized dealer, in Mulheim, and they cannot get the part for about 3 weeks.

By now Easyjet have gone home so I have to wait until tomorrow.

Back to the pizzeria for comfort food and beer.